AS the likelihood of an El Niño event occurring this year is high, extreme heat and drought conditions may oc­cur from mid-2026 to mid- 2027. Therefore, prepa­rations must be made in advance from now on to prevent and mitigate these impacts, said President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Min Aung Hlaing, who chairs the National Water Resources Committee, at the meeting hall of the President’s Of­fice yesterday afternoon.

The President un­veiled that plans are being developed and implement­ed to ensure the effective utilization of water re­sources and to address water scarcity during the summer season, as well as reduced river water levels caused by climate change. Efforts are also being made to draft and enact a National Water Law.

He noted that plans are being drawn up and implemented to ensure the efficient use of water resources and to address river water shortages caused by dry-season wa­ter scarcity and climate change. Efforts are also underway to draft and en­act a National Water Law.

The President ex­plained that more than 800 million acre-feet of freshwater flows annual­ly through the four major rivers flowing across My­anmar, as well as other riv­ers and streams, large nat­ural lakes, and wetlands. Therefore, it is necessary to explore opportunities for constructing low dams, generating hydropower, supplying drinking water in urban and rural areas, providing irrigation water for agriculture, and com­mercially producing wa­ter-related products in or­der to conserve and make effective use of freshwater resources.

He underscored that more than 100,000 mega­watts of hydropower can be generated from rivers and creeks in Myanmar. Currently, some 3,500 megawatts are generat­ed, accounting for only 3.5 per cent. Hence, it is necessary to attract in­vestments in the hydro­power sector of renewa­ble energy.

In the agriculture sector, the President highlighted that some 15 million acres of farmland are placed under paddy in the monsoon across the nation, but about 2.71 million acres of paddy are planted in summer. Expansion of sown acre­age is not important, but it is necessary to grow crops in the sown acre­age to thrive.

He stressed the need to formulate the year-wise plans to supply wa­ter in villages of Sagaing, Mandalay and Magway regions where residents face scarcity of drinking water and agricultural water in summer.

He underlined that as the likelihood of an El Niño event occurring this year is high, extreme heat and drought condi­tions may occur from mid-2026 to mid-2027. Therefore, preparations must be made in advance from now on to prevent and mitigate these im­pacts.

The President urged ministries, regions, states and organizations to consider the possible impacts of natural disas­ters in the construction of infrastructure and res­idential buildings.

Committee Vice-Chairman and Un­ion Minister for Trans­port U Mya Tun Oo, and the secretary reported on the formation of the committee, its objectives and responsibilities, implementation of the plans, supply of water and plans.

Union ministers, the Nay Pyi Taw Coun­cil Chairman, region and state chief ministers and mayors discussed the water-related work pro­cesses, development of water sources, interna­tional cooperation in wa­ter sources, water quality tests, river water pump­ing process, and supply of drinking and agricul­tural water.

In response, the President stressed the need to educate school-age children to under­stand the value of water and the impacts of water pollution from undisci­plined disposal activities. It is necessary to con­serve the Indawgyi and Inlay lakes as a national duty because these are global and local heritage sites.

The Vice-Chairman reported on the system­atic use of water sourc­es and the prevention of natural disasters.

The President re­marked that, as there are also problems that can arise due to weather con­ditions, it is necessary to implement activities in accordance with the appropriate time peri­ods. It is necessary to make preparations for situations that may arise in accordance with the country’s climatic con­ditions.

Also present at the meeting were senior Tat­madaw officers from the Office of the Command­er-in-Chief, City Develop­ment Committee Chairs from Yangon and Manda­lay regions and officials together with region and state chief ministers through videoconferenc­ing. — MNA/TTA